System and method for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device

Abstract

A method and system for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device. The method and system include determining a group associated with the universal remote control based on a remote profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, and a universal remote database hosted on an external server infrastructure. The method and system also include determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the group that is associated with the universal remote control device. The method and system additionally include determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device. The method and system further include applying the over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device, comprising:
 determining location information for the universal remote control device; 
 determining a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the universal remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, or a database hosted on an external server infrastructure; 
 determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device; 
 determining that the universal remote control device is being charged; 
 determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and 
 applying the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further including providing an updater user interface on a display of the universal remote control device with user updatable data fields that are linked with the group, receiving data within the user updatable data fields, accessing the remote control profile, and updating the group within the remote control profile with the data received within the user updatable data fields. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the over the air update includes determining that a type of over the air update is a software update, and determining: the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the software update includes at least one of: an update of an operating system executed on the universal remote control device, or an update of an application executed on the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the over the air update includes determining that a type of over the air update is a firmware update, and determining the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the firmware update includes an update of the firmware of the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the over the air update includes applying the over the air update that includes is at least one of: a silent update or an active update, wherein the silent update is executed without any effect on a performance of the universal remote control device and the active update presents one or more interfaces and user input icons during execution of the update. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the location information for the universal remote control device comprises identifying a zip code where the universal remote control device is operating or an IP address associated with the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a user content programming preference, wherein determining the over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device is further based on the user content programming preference. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the group associated with the universal remote control device includes extracting data associated with the group from the remote control profile, wherein the group associated with the universal remote control device further comprises at least one of: a user preference, connected device data, or a software/hardware version for the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the over the air update includes evaluating extracted data pertaining to the group and accessing a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the over the air update includes downloading the over the air update that applies to the group from the central updates repository hosted on the external server infrastructure to the memory of the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       11. A system for applying over the air updates to a universal remote control device, comprising:
 a remote control updater utility executed by a control unit of the universal remote control device, wherein the remote control updater utility determines location information for the universal remote control device; 
 a group determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines:
 a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, or a database hosted on an external server infrastructure; 
 
 an update determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based at least in part on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device; 
 a battery power level determinant module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that determines that the universal remote control device is being charged and determines a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and 
 an update application module included as a module of the remote control updater utility that applies the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and power level of the battery of the universal remote control device. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , further including the remote control updater utility providing an updater user interface on a display of the universal remote control device with user updatable data fields that are linked with the group, receiving data within the user updatable data fields, accessing the remote control profile, and updating the group within the remote control profile with the data received within the user updatable data fields. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the update application module determines that a type of over the air update is a software update and determines: the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a software usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the software update includes at least one of: an update of an operating system executed on the universal remote control device, or an update of an application executed on the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the update application module determines that a type of over the air update is a firmware update and determines: the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware charging state threshold, and the power level of the battery meets or surpasses a firmware usage state threshold when the battery is classified as being in a usage state, wherein the firmware update includes an update of the firmware of the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the update application module applies the over the air update that includes is at least one of: a silent update and an active update, wherein the silent update is executed without any effect on a performance of the universal remote control device, and the active update presents one or more interfaces and user input icons during execution of the update. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the group determinant module extracts data associated with the group from the remote control profile, wherein the group associated with the universal control remote control device further comprises at least one of: a user preference, connected device data, or a software/hardware version for the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the update determinant module evaluates extracted data associated with the group and accesses a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the update determinant module downloads the over the air update that applies to the group from the central updates repository hosted on the external server infrastructure to the memory of the universal remote control device. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method, comprising:
 determining location information for a universal remote control device; 
 determining a group, wherein the group comprises content service provider data for the universal remote control device, and wherein the group is associated with the universal remote control device based on a remote control profile stored on at least one of: a memory of the universal remote control device, or a universal remote database hosted on an external server infrastructure; 
 determining an over the air update that is applicable to the universal remote control device based at least in part on the group and on the location information for the universal remote control device; 
 determining that the universal remote control device is being charged; 
 determining a power level of a battery of the universal remote control device; and 
 applying the over the air update based on the determination that the universal remote control device is being charged and the power level of the battery of the universal remote control device. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein determining the over the air update includes evaluating extracted data associated with the group and accessing a central updates repository that is hosted on the external server infrastructure to determine the over the air update that applies to the group.